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Littlechild congratulates Obama for endorsing UNDRIP
Wilton Littlechild, member of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and International Chief of Treaty No. 6 Confederacy, was quick to praise US President Barack Obama when the US government reversed its decision in mid-December and endorsed the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Said Littlechild, “… this is extremely gratifying in the long struggle to have an internationally recognized instrument promoting the rights of Indigenous Peoples around the world.” The US was the final state that voted against the UN Declaration when it was passed by the United Nations General Assembly. Canada endorsed the Declaration on Nov. 12. Littlechild is a strong proponent of the UNDRIP, speaking out for it when he attended the Human Rights Council, in Geneva. The UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples is an international instrument providing recognition of basic rights for the Indigenous peoples throughout the world. It was adopted by UN General Assembly Sept. 13, 2008.
Johnson released on parole
Yvonne Johnson, convicted in the first-degree murder of Leonard Skwarok, was granted full parole on Dec. 17, 2010 by the Parole Board of Canada. Johnson, 48, was convicted in 1991 and given a life sentence which wouldn’t make her eligible for parole for 25 years. However, in 2005 she won the right to apply for early parole under Canada’s faint-hope clause. She and three others beat Skwarok to death, mistakenly believing he was a child molester. All four attackers were intoxicated. Skwarok’s body was found at the city dump in Wetaskiwin. Johnson was victim of childhood abuse. She co-authored the book, Stolen Life: The Journey of a Cree Woman, with Rudy Wiebe about the murder and her life. Johnson’s full parole conditions are to abstain from alcohol and drugs, continue counseling, and not to associate with known or suspected criminals. She was released on day parole in February 2008, which was renewed every six weeks until February 2010. She was also granted over-night privileges on her day parole. She applied for full parole twice previously and was turned down both times.
Opposition to Sunrise project
Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation and Beaver Lake Cree Nation have added their voices in opposition to the go ahead of plans for the large-scale Sunrise project announced in December by giant BP and its partner Husky Energy Inc. In a news release from the Beaver Lake Cree Nation, Chief Al Lameman said the announcement to proceed with the plans “came as a shock, given BP’s poor record for environmental management strategies.” It is reported the oil company expects Sunrise to pump 200,000 barrels a day by 2020. BP put the project on hold several times because of concerns raised by activist shareholders about the high concentration of greenhouse gases and toxic waste that pose an environmental risk. In a different news release, Eriel Tchekwie Deranger, from the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation, said “Tar Sands extraction is devastating the lives of First Nations communities across Northern Alberta. The Alberta chiefs have unanimously called for a moratorium on all new tar sands projects, but BP and Husky are ignoring our wishes and trampling over our rights and communities in the quest for profit.”
Innovative training program qualifies cooks
Last month, 10 Métis youth, between 18-30 years, completed an innovative pilot program that provided them with training to jump-start their careers in the food services industry. The Camp Cook program is a unique collaborative partnership between the provincial government, NAIT, the Rupertsland Institute’s Métis Training to Employment Program, and PTI Group Inc. to provide hands-on culinary training for Métis youth. The extensive six-week program simulated an actual camp work environment, with a 21-day on and seven-day off shift, and included safety certification, academic upgrading, as well as theoretical and hands-on camp cooking training. Upon successful completion of the program, candidates have the necessary skills and experience required for employment in the food industry, and are eligible to be indentured as apprentice cooks. Graduates were also offered full-time employment opportunities with PTI, a company that provides workforce accommodations and catering services to industry customers working in remote areas.
Blue Quills hosts third annual IRS gathering
On Jan. 5-7, First Nation and Métis IRS survivors, educators, political leaders, churches and service organizations met at the Blue Quills First Nations College and St. Paul for the third annual Indian Residential Schools Gathering. The gathering continued the public engagement process of networking to further dialogue, information sharing and exchanging of views regarding the Indian Residential School inter-generational legacy and impact on the communities. The gathering was co-hosted by the Saddle Lake Cree Nation, Tribal Chiefs Ventures Inc., Métis Settlements (East) General Council, and Blue Quills First Nations College. Former students, intergenerational descendants and former federal government employees had the opportunity to tell their personal IRS experiences to the Truth and Reconciliation Statement Gathering team.
Partnership to benefit First Nations in development of oil sands workers’ lodge
Christina River Enterprises, of the Fort McMurray First Nation, will benefit from a contract awarded to SNC-Lavalin to design, build, operate and maintain a workforce lodge for oil sands workers in Fort McMurray. “An important element of this contract is that SNC-Lavalin Operations and Maintenance and Christina River Enterprises, of the Fort McMurray First Nation, intend to perform a significant amount of the operations and maintenance contract working in partnership,” said Charlie Rate, Executive Vice-President, SNC-Lavalin Group Inc., in a news release. The workforce lodge will provide accommodation and recreational facilities for 2,500 workers during the construction phase of a major oil sands project. The contract also includes the turnkey provision of site preparation, pilings, water and waste water treatment facilities and backup power generation, as well as the provision of catering and support services at the lodge over the construction period. Onsite construction is currently underway.
Nominations announced for Alberta Business Awards of Distinction
Four of the 10 categories for the Alberta Business Awards of Distinction recognize Aboriginal diversity and business practices. Nominated in the 2011 slate for the Aboriginal Woman Entrepreneur Award of Distinction are Isabell Ringenoldus, TAWS Security Ltd. (Fort McMurray), Janice Larocque, Spirit Staffing & Consulting Inc. (Calgary), and Tammy Charland-McLaughlin, Primco Dene LP (Cold Lake). All nominees in the Diversity Leadership Award of Distinction are from Calgary: Carewest Innovative Healthcare, Ghost River Rediscovery Society, Husky Energy Inc., and YMCA Calgary. In the Aboriginal Relations - Best Practice Award of Distinction are PTI Group Inc. (Edmonton), RBC Royal Bank (Edmonton), TransCanada Corporation (Calgary), and United Protection Services Inc. (Edmonton). The Eagle Feather Business Award of Distinction nominees are Aseniwuche Development Corporation (Grande Cache), Lesser Slave Lake Management Services Ltd. (Slave Lake), Sunchild E-Learning Community Inc. (Rocky Mountain House), and The Sawridge Group of Companies (Edmonton). The awards gala will be held March 4 at the Marriott River Cree Resort.
Compiled by Shari Narine
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